Removal of blue levafix dye from aqueous solution by clays

Dyes have become one of the main sources of severe water pollution as a result of the rapid development of the textile industries. It is reported that there are over than 100.000 commercially available dyes with a production of over 7x10 5 metric tons per year. In order to eliminate Blue Levafix dye from aqueous solution, batch adsorption studies were carried out using natural clay (Bentonite of Nador-Morocco), and commercial clays (Montmorillonite and Kaolin). Adsorption experiments were conducted under various conditions: initial dye concentration, amount of clay, contact time, solid-liquid ratio, and organic matter concentration. Adsorption process fitted the first order kinetic. All isotherms were described by the Freundlich equation with a good regression factor (>0.9). The Freundlich parameters Kf permit to classify different adsorbents in ascending order Bentonite < Montmorillonite < Kaolin. The sorption of Blue Levafix dye on clays is favored with the presence of organic matter, in acid media and for solid liquid ratio 1 for bentonite and montmorillonite and 2 for kaolin.